Global production in December rose at Japan’s top carmakers, led by double-digit increases at Toyota and Nissan, while output fell at Mitsubishi, Associated Press (AP) reported.
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According to AP, Toyota, Japan’s largest carmaker, reported global production of 486,627 vehicles in December, up 13.6% from a year ago, as domestic output rose 2.5% and overseas production jumped 32.0%. For 2003, Toyota produced 6.08 million vehicles, up 7.8% from the year before, the report added.
Nissan reportedly said its global output jumped 11.1% to 221,725 vehicles in December amid strong demand in North America, Europe and Asia.
Associated Press said Nissan’s US production surged 94.0%, thanks to brisk demand for Maxima and Altima sedans, the Quest minivan, Pathfinder Armada sport utility vehicles and the Titan pickup. For the entire year, global production at Nissan, the Japanese unit of Renault, climbed 9.8% to 2.96 million vehicles, AP added.
AP said that global production by Honda rose 9.4% to 239,599 vehicles in December – domestic output shrank 11.2% but overseas production surged 31.9%. Honda, Japan’s No. 2 carmaker, reportedly said its global production in 2003 rose 2.4% to 2.97 million vehicles.
Mazda overseas production in December totalled 88,051 vehicles, up 9.6%, AP said, as domestic production posted a 15% rise to 67,411 vehicles and overseas output dropped 3.3% to 20,640.
For 2003, domestic production from Mazda – 33% owned by Ford – rose 3.6% to 801,084 vehicles while overseas production surged 42.0% to 240,821 vehicles, the report said.
According to Associated Press, global production at Mitsubishi Motors, 37% owned by DaimlerChrysler, fell 9.6% to 118,641 vehicles in December as production in Japan slipped 17.5% to 59,802 vehicles and overseas output edged up 0.2% to 58,839 vehicles.
Mitsubishi’s worldwide output last year slipped 5.7% to 1.58 million vehicles, AP added.
